A quiz from Audrey
December 18th, 2007 at 2:30 pm by David FarrarIt is hard to decide what the worst feature of the Electoral Finance Bill is:
a) that it was pursued with such self-interest by Labour without the bipartisan approach associated with something as important as electoral law;
b) extending the regulated period for electioneering almost all of election year; or
c) that it gives incumbent MPs an even greater unfair advantage over outside rival candidates and groups that oppose them or their policies.
Audrey goes on to talk about how it will legalise Labour’s pledge card.
Related posts:
- Audrey Young explains the electoral spending gerrymander
- NZPA on Legalise Pledge Card legislation
- Audrey does Q&A with Rodney
- The pledge card revisited
December 18th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Regulating the public out of public politics.
Vote:December 18th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
Despite some of these flaws, it is a positive development that people are talking about campaign finance reform.
You should not be able to buy policies from politicians, no matter how wealthy you are; this is quite simply corruption and bad for NZ.
It is fascinating how strongly National is opposed to this, and equally amazing how they have deliberately confused being able to buy politicians as being an act of free speech.
NZ should follow the example of some other countries which have total transparency.
Vote:December 18th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
“It is fascinating how strongly National is opposed to this, and equally amazing how they have deliberately confused being able to buy politicians as being an act of free speech.”
Everybody except lefties are opposed to the EFB that should tell you something uk_kiwi.
Vote:December 18th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
The point about this all is it has seriously underpinned the importance of the media to inform and debate politics.
Audrey Young is right to bemoan the EFB, but she and the media have been instrumental in its happening.
The EFB and the fact that it was the Blogs, not radio, tv or the newspapers that exposed and discussed this issue, must be seen as a wake-up call for the media.
First because it is a shameful indictment that a political party was so assured that the media was so asleep at the wheel, that the EFB could be introduced with a reasonable expectation that it would pass without comment.
Secondly, because the media came late to the party, and only then when it was way too late to do anything meaningful the realm of public opinion about this Bill.
Thirdly because the hidden implication of the EFB is that if it is ok to pass grey laws like this, then it will soon be ok to use them, in grey situations against the media if it displeases the government, and the media have largely let it happen because of their complacency.
This complacency is not new. It has had eight years of media sychophancy and compliance to get this weed-ridden. Now, too late, the media has realised that the garden is overgrown.
So excuse me if I disregard these crocodile tears from Audrey and her like.
Vote:December 18th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
The worst thing is how they can keep a straight face on something which SIMPLY MUST have cross-party and wide public support.
It is a perfect example of why the public rate politicians so low.
Imagine if the ABs got to unilaterally change the rules halfway through the World Cup quarter-finals game at Cardiff.
I am disgusted by those politicians in support of it.
Vote:December 18th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
“During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.” – George Orwell
Filched from the Wall St Examiner blog.
Vote:December 18th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
As I have laboured the point it creates no less than 4 distinct classes of citizens as regards politics.
1. Members of the ruling party.
2. Members of other parties rerpresented in the Parliament.
3. Those who register as 3rd parties.
4. Those who dont register as 3rd parties.
All have different rights and protections all at descending levels.
So much for the once vaunted socialist classless system.
Like all things Socialist and their supporters its full of shit
Come on James Defend your position or dont you understand the concepts.
Is the spelling grammar etc to your liking little lad.
Vote:December 18th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Uk_kiwi – our Labour/Green/NZFirst politicians are quite willing to sell out for $240,000 in anonymous cash, we know this because they have just written a law on the expectation this will be their take.
The National Party objects to this and you misrepresent them – how fascinating. NZ should follow the example of some other countries which have total transparency.
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